It depends on where you were treated. If there is no base close by with a large retired ex-military population, you might be able to get treated. However, here in TN, the VA is terrible. There isn't enough staff to handle the patients.
I was treated once in a VA hospital in La Jolla CA back in 79'. They didn't have many patients and the doctors were begging for something to do. But here in TN, the VA is packed full all of the time. It took over 6 months to get an appointment for a physical. I gave up trying to get any treatment from the VA over 20 years ago. From what I hear, it's ten times as bad now.
No matter how bad you might think it is, mud.....
It's worse.
They're not just incompetent, they simply don't care. They are insolent, lazy, surly.... Are absolutely convinced that they're doing us a favor and we should just shut the fuck up and take what they give us and they treat you like a Prison Inmate.
Except that Prison Inmates get BETTER medical care than Veterans do.
I swear it to God, they do.
The terrorists at GITMO get better Health care than Veterans do.
The people at the VA don't need to be fired, they need to be thrown in Prison.
I'd prefer to execute them but I doubt we could get away with that.
I shit you not, no matter how bad you think the VA is. No matter what you've been told -- They're worse.
And see -- Here's the point. I can't really go anywhere else without it costing me an arm and a leg.
I can't get a Private Medicare Supplement anymore. That's what most people are missing.
If I could get a Medicare Supplement, I would tell tell the VA to kiss my fucking ass.
But I can't.
I'm diabetic, I have prolific diabetic retinopathy, macular degenertion, macular edema, some sort of sickle cell bullshit caused by Herbicides, (Agent Orange, all those) I have bad hip that needs surgery (shot out of a helicopter along with other ailments common to paratroopers) and numerous other non-service connected problems.
None of them good.
But I can't get a Medicare Supplement because, when I turned 65 back in 2012, the Presidential Elections were happening and I was STUPID enough to believe their lies...... "We love you, Veterans. We're going to take care of you. We promise"
Once you pass on a Medicare Supplement during the initial enrollment period -- You're fucked. Gotta be medically underwritten after that.
So I figured, why not? I'm a Priority Group I Veteran, which means the VA is responsible for ALL my medical care.
Just one thing -- dimocrap SCUM lie.
The VA SUCKS. It is worse than you can possibly imagine.
And now, they've got an attitude because Trump is making noises about taking the VA down. So are a lot of Veterans Groups.
Take it down. If it means throwing the baby out with the bath water, so be it.
FUCK THE VA and DOUBLY FUCK the disinterested, entitlement scumbags that work there.
Put every one of them on the street. Unless we can arrange prison cells for them